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Replace a Limited Validity Passport

A limited-validity passport is a passport we issued for less than the full validity period. The full validity period is 10 years for customers over age 16 and five years for children under 16. The process to apply for a full-validity passport depends on the reason we issued a limited-validity passport.

Refer to the letter we included with your limited-validity passport for more information.

An emergency passport is valid for one year or less, and is for U.S. citizens who must return to the United States as soon as possible from a foreign country. We issue emergency passports in limited circumstances only. Examples include replacing a lost or stolen passport or life-or-death situations.

Some countries may not accept your emergency passport. Check the entry and exit requirements of your destination before you travel.

Expand the boxes on this page to learn the common reasons why we limit a passport, and how to replace it with a full-validity passport. 

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Why is your passport limited?

I have multiple passports that are lost, stolen, or damaged

Apply at an acceptance facility or a passport agency. Submit:

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I could not resolve an issue with my application before urgent travel

Examples include:

  • I could only submit a photocopy of notarized consent for my child’s passport.
  • I changed my name but could not provide evidence of the change.

If we issued your passport less than one year ago, submit the following by mail:

  • Form DS-5504 (use one of the addresses on the form)
  • Your limited passport
  • One passport photo
  • The supporting document(s) that were needed when you applied for the limited passport. (example: original notarized consent form, or name change documents)
  • No fees unless you want optional expedited service.

If we issued your passport more than one year ago, apply at an acceptance facility or a passport agency. Submit:

  • Form DS-11 
  • Your limited passport
  • Valid ID and photocopy of that ID
  • One passport photo
  • The supporting document(s) that were needed when you applied for the limited passport. (example: original notarized consent form, or name change documents).
  • Passport fees
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I could not submit primary evidence of citizenship before urgent travel

If we issued your passport less than one year ago, submit the following by mail:

If we issued your passport more than one year ago, apply at an acceptance facility or a passport agency. Submit:

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I applied for a replacement naturalization or citizenship certificate and could not get it before urgent travel

If we issued your passport less than two years ago, submit the following by mail:

If we issued your passport more than two years ago, apply at an acceptance facility or a passport agency. Submit:

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I was in a foreign country and received a limited, emergency passport

If we issued your passport less than one year ago, refer to the letter we sent you to check if you need to submit Form DS-11 or Form DS-5504. Include:

If we issued your passport more than one year ago, submit Form DS-11 or Form DS-82 (if you are eligible to renew). Include:

Last Updated: July 2, 2024
Contact Us

Processing Times

Routine: 6-8 weeks*

Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60*

*Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel. Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center.

  • It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport after we print it. 
  • Processing times + mailing times = total time to get a passport

Urgent Travel: See our Get my Passport Fast page.